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PODCAST

History That Doesn"t Suck

Prof. Greg Jackson

HTDS is a bi-weekly podcast, delivering a legit, seriously researched, hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories. To keep up with History That Doesn’t Suck news, check us out htdspodcast.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram: @historythatdoesntsuck. Become a premium member to support our work, receive ad-free episodes and bonus episodes.Pre-order Prof. Jackson"s new book Been There Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome

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All Episodes

70:54

178: “A Damn Big Dam”: Taming the Colorado River with...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/05/05

“I felt no distress whatever…I was perspiring freely and was as limber and helpless as a wet rag. It was an exhilarating experience.... It was then and there that I first conceived the idea of the reclamation of the desert.”This is the story of the Hoover Dam. A wild, precarious, and dangerous river, the Colorado tears across the American southwest’s otherwise arid and largely uninhabitable desert. Yet, if tamed, the Colorado could reclaim countless acres; it could provide sustenance and

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13:01

Introducing: What We Spend

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/04/28

A new HTDS episode about The Hoover Dam debuts May 5th. Meanwhile, we'd like to introduce a new show from our partners at Audacy: What We Spend. Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices

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63:28

America 250: The Boston Campaign 1775-76: A...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/04/21

This is a conversation to kick off the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Retired U.S. Army Major General and history buff, Bill Rapp, drops some knowledge on how the colonies weren't exactly gung-ho for a full-blown revolution before April 1775. Turns out, they were mostly ticked off and feeling rebellious in response to intolerable British policies. But a tense situation and an itchy trigger finger set it off. The episode covers the action-packed Battles of Lexington and Concord,

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54:46

177: An Epilogue to the New Deal and CCC Deep Dive...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/04/07

A discussion of the recent HTDS narrative episodes on FDR and the New Deal. Think of it as a book club for additional insights into these latest chapters of the HTDS chronological story of America.Professor Greg Jackson is joined by Professor Lindsey Cormack to discuss the government's response to the Great Depression and the legacy of the New Deal. They explore the causes of the Depression, the government's initial missteps, and the eventual successes of programs like the CCC. The episode also

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71:18

176: FDR v. “The Nine Old Men” (The New Deal pt. 3):...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/03/24

“No matter how great and good a man may be, executive aggrandizement is not safe for democracy.”This is the story of Franklin’s second term and his battle with the Supreme Court. It’s no secret that SCOTUS hasn’t really been ruling in the New Deal’s favor. But with such an overwhelming victory at the polls, Franklin feels confident that he can circumvent that by upping the number of judges from nine to fifteen and appointing people who see the vision. But what does the public make of it? What

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9:46

Presenting "Crime House True Crime Stories:" A Crime...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/03/17

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! HTDS will be back next week with a special episode continuing our history-telling of the New Deal. While we put the finishing touches on that episode, we’re sharing this sneak peek from a new podcast called Crime House True Crime Stories.Crime House has a new original show, Crime House True Crime Stories. Every Monday, take a deep dive into some of the world’s most notorious true crime cases from that week in history, all connected by a captivating theme – infamous serial

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71:28

175: The Dirty Thirties (The New Deal pt. 2): Dust,...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/03/10

“I saw and approached the hungry and desperate mother, as if drawn by a magnet.” This is the story of FDR’s first term after facing down the initial emergency. 100 days down, about 1,300 more to go—for this term at least. After the whirlwind of new bills and “alphabet agencies” (AAA, CCC, etc.), the nation is adjusting to and examining FDR’s New Deal. As they do, the NIRA is upsetting both ends of the spectrum: company owners don’t love the Blue Eagle and regulations while workers are frustrated

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67:05

174: The First “First Hundred Days:” FDR Kicks Off...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/02/24

“[We] had forgotten to be Republicans or Democrats. We were just a bunch of men trying to save the banking system.”This is the story of FDR’s first 100 days in office. In early 1933, banks foreclose on thousands upon thousands of homes and farms every month. The banks have little choice–they too are failing! Meanwhile, unemployment is hovering near 25%. It’s a catastrophe. Capitalism itself and the American way of life appears to be on the precipice. Enter President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who

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71:24

173: From Hyde Park to the White House: The Early...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/02/10

“First of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-–nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”This is the story of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s journey to the White House. Even as a young boy, Franklin admires his fifth cousin Theodore Roosevelt and wants to follow in his footsteps. He seems to have a knack for it too. He attends the same schools. He serves in many of the same political

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69:01

14 (Second Edition): The Newburgh Conspiracy and The...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/01/27

“I have not only grown gray but almost blind in service to my country.”This is the story (or tale) of two cities. In Paris, Ben Franklin, John Adams, John Jay and (briefly) Henry Laurens are negotiating the terms of American independence. They know what they want, but getting there will require outmaneuvering the greatest powers on earth and defying Congress. Will they do as they’ve been instructed? Or risk it all and swing for the fence? Meanwhile, Continental Army officers in New Windsor,

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72:06

13 (Second Edition): The Battle of the Chesapeake &...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2025/01/13

"The British officers in general behaved like boys who had been whipped at school.”This is the story of the beginning of the Revolution's end. Following Lord Cornwallis’ vow to take the fight to Virginia, infamous Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton raids Charlottesville, takes a few legislators captive, and forces Governor Thomas Jefferson to flee. Tom only escapes because of the brave ride of the “Paul Revere of the South,” Jack Jouett. Our French friend Lafayette is also on the run, always just a

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67:53

12 (Second Edition): An American Judas Betrays &...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2024/12/30

"Arnold has betrayed us! Whom can we trust now?"This isn't a story of betrayal; this is THE story of betrayal. After half a decade of giving his all for the Patriot cause, Benedict Arnold becomes America's Judas Iscariot. He betrays his brothers-in-arms for a commission in the British army and cold hard cash (a lot more than thirty pieces of silver). Meanwhile, after General Horatio Gates’ shameful showing at the Battle of Camden, American forces in the South are scattered and demoralized

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66:40

172: Breadlines, Bank Failures, & the Bonus Army:...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2024/12/16

"Too much praise cannot be given to the President for the prompt and resolute and skillful way in which he has set about reassuring the country after the financial collapse.” This is the story of Herbert Hoover’s facing the early years of the Great Depression. Just after the stock market crash of 1929, people aren’t expecting the worst. Most, including the experts, believe that this little downturn will blow over with time, just like past economic troubles. Avoiding the word “panic,” President

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34:10

171: Christmas Special VIII: Festivities in the Jazz Age

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2024/12/02

“There is a million dollars here for the asking!”This is the story of Christmas in the 1920s. Yeah, the whole decade—why not? One hundred years ago, people were just beginning (or reviving) traditions that are entrenched in our holiday celebrations today. Charitable giving at Christmas is ever present, and the winter of 1920 features the Great Humanitarian Herbert Hoover’s efforts to feed children in Europe with his “Invisible Guest” dinners. Another president, “Silent Cal” Coolidge, holds the

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66:14

170: The Crash of 1929 & Meeting President Herbert...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2024/11/18

“A wise man never sells out at the first sign of trouble. That’s for the pikers.”This is the story of the 1929 Wall Street Crash. On October 24, or “Black Thursday,” stock prices plunge unexpectedly. Early the next week, whatever was left of the bottom falls out on “Black Tuesday.” The New York Stock Exchange has crashed. The Roaring 20s are over. But what exactly is a stock market? How does the American financial system work in the 1920s? And how did the Crash of 1929 happen? From the origins

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44:09

169: An Epilogue to the 1920s: Youth culture, The...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2024/11/04

Our last few episodes have reveled in stories of the popularization of movies, music and sports during the Roaring 1920s. In this epilogue episode, Professor Jackson steps out of storytelling mode and into classroom mode (that doesn’t suck). To help us better understand the lasting cultural impact of this period, he’s invited Dr. Sarah Churchwell who has written extensively about 1920s American culture, including her acclaimed book Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of the Great

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10:49

Introducing: The Real History of Dracula from Airship...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2024/10/28

In the recent Halloween episode #168 of History That Doesn’t Suck, we uncovered the undead story of the 1922 classic vampire film Nosferatu. While the movie isn’t a scene-for-scene lift from author Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula, it’s close enough that Bram Stoker’s widow, Florence, sued the filmmakers for copyright infringement. In that episode we also explored Dracula. So today, we thought it’d be fun to introduce a new podcast that tells the whole story of the book that launched an entire

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40:17

168: Halloween Special IV: Nosferatu and Silent Horror

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2024/10/21

“His Lordship from Transylvania would like to purchase a nice house in our small town . . . it will take a bit of effort . . . a bit of sweat and perhaps . . . a bit of blood . . .”This is the story of the Great Death in Wisborg in 1838. Nosferatu is a 1922 classic horror film, one of the first ever made. It sort of recalls Bram Stoker’s Dracula—enough to build a copyright lawsuit—but, fortunately for us, Nosferatu weathered the controversy via unlicensed copies and has survived into the

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59:43

167: The Golden Age of Sports: Horse Racing, Boxing,...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2024/10/07

“We have a basket and a ball, and it seems to me that would be a good name for it.” This is the story of America’s varied athletic endeavors (besides baseball). Though each sport could provide enough material for an entire episode, it would probably run us into overtime, and the 1920s are drawing to a close. As Black Thursday approaches, it’s time for some last-minute fun and games. The 1920s is the Golden Age of Sports—fans can’t get enough of the races, the ring, the court, or the gridiron. Of

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52:58

166: A Conversation on Negro Leagues Baseball History...

History That Doesn"t Suck ·

2024/09/30

As a follow up to episode 165 America’s Favorite Pastime: Baseball, we’re proud to share an interview with Bob Kendrick, the President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, MO. Founded in 1990, the NLBM is the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African-American baseball and its profound impact on the social advancement of America.It’s the perfect time to share more about the history of the Negro Leagues because, in the spring of 2024,

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